2002 – Halle Berry Honored at Cannes for ‘Monster’s Ball’

On May 15, 2002, Halle Berry received special recognition at the Cannes Film Festival following her historic Academy Award win for Monster’s Ball. She had become the first Black woman to win the Oscar for Best Actress just two months prior. The Cannes celebration marked the international film community\’s acknowledgment of the significance of her achievement. Berry’s emotional Oscar speech resonated globally, where she proclaimed that her win was “for every nameless, faceless woman of color” striving for visibility in Hollywood. Cannes organizers honored her not just for her performance, but for breaking a longstanding racial barrier in cinema. The moment sparked conversations about representation, opportunity, and inclusion in global film. Berry’s presence at Cannes also helped elevate Black cinematic voices and opened doors for more complex roles for Black women in the film industry.